Method and apparatus for skin absorption enhancement and cellulite reduction

Abstract

Application of electrical pulses and mechanical vibrations to the skin is provided in a controlled manner, in order to increase the absorption of substances applied previously on the skin. A dermabrasion treatment is first performed on a region of the skin to be later given a skin absorption enhancement treatment. After the dermabrasion treatment, electrical pulses are provided to the skin by way of an array of electrodes disposed on a vibrating head, and the mechanical vibrations are provided to the skin by way of the vibrating head being made to vibrate. Preferably, the electrical and mechanical vibrations are at the same frequency and phase with respect to each other, in order to increase the absorption effect. Also, a suction may be applied to the skin, in order to provide for a substantially uniform absorption of the substance that was applied previously on the skin.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A treatment method for enhancing absorption of substances provided on a skin surface of a patient, comprising: 
       a) applying a dermabrasion treatment to a region of the skin surface by way of a dermabrasion apparatus;  
       b) thereafter, applying a substance to the skin that is intended to be absorbed within the skin;  
       c) applying a vibration to the skin of between 10 to 200 Hz, the vibration being provided by way of a vibrating plate that is placed on the skin, the vibrating plate being disposed on a hand-held probe; and  
       d) applying a sequence of bursts of electrical pulses at a frequency between 50 to 15,000 Hz and peak voltage between 20 and 200 V to an array of electrodes that are placed on the skin, the array of electrodes being disposed on the vibrating plate,  
       wherein the sequence of bursts of electrical pulses and the vibration are provided to the skin at a same time in order to enhance absorption of the substance applied to the skin.  
     
     
       2. The treatment method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       e) applying a vacuum to the skin when performing steps b) and c), in order to provide a substantially uniform absorption of the substance within the skin.  
     
     
       3. The treatment method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are parallel metallic stripes that are alternately connected to each other and that are provided on an outer surface of the vibrating plate. 
     
     
       4. The treatment method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are round electrodes alternately electrically connected to each other and that are provided on an outer surface of the vibrating plate. 
     
     
       5. The treatment method according to  claim 1 , wherein a D.C. current is applied between the electrodes and a ground plate connected to the patient. 
     
     
       6. The treatment method according to  claim 1 , wherein the applying step b) is accomplished by dispensing of liquid or gel or cream or lotion by way of a roller integrated in the probe. 
     
     
       7. The treatment method according to  claim 6 , wherein a D.C. current is applied between the electrodes and a plate connected to the patient. 
     
     
       8. A method for reducing cellulite on skin, comprising: 
       a) applying a dermabrasion treatment to a region of the skin;  
       b) thereafter, applying mechanical vibrations to the region of the skin by way of a probe;  
       c) applying electrical pulses to the region of the skin, by way of the probe, at a same time the mechanical pulses are applied to the region of the skin in step b); and  
       d) concurrently with steps b) and c), generating a suction at the probe to suck at least a portion of the region of the skin towards the probe while the probe is being moved along the region of the skin.  
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
       between steps a) and b), applying a cellulite-reducing substance to the skin,  
       wherein the vibrating applying step enhances absorption of the substance within the skin, and  
       wherein the suction generating step evenly distributes the substance within the skin.